Lavandula plant named ‘Bentley’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Lavandula  cultivar named ‘BENTLEY’ is disclosed, characterized by large red-purple terminal bracts, a broad flower spike and a bushy, compact growth habit. The new variety is a  Lavandula,  normally produced as an outdoor ornamental plant for containers or gardens.

Latin name of the genus and species: Lavandula stoechas.

Variety denomination: ‘BENTLEY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar was discovered as a result of a planned breedingprogram directed by the inventor, Howard Bentley a citizen of Australia.‘Bentley’ is a selection arising from the controlled self-pollination ofan unnamed, unpatented variety of Lavandula stoechas. Parents of theunnamed parent variety are the result of cross-pollination of Lavandulastoechas ‘Kew Red’ (unpatented) as the female parent, and Lavandulastoechas ‘Pukehou’ (unpatented) as the male. Cross-pollination of thegrandparent plants took place in Park Orchards, Victoria, Australia inNovember 2001. From this cross the F1 generation was raised in February2002 and grown to flowering maturity in September 2002. At this stagethe F1 generation was self-pollinated and the seed sown in February2003. From these F2 seedlings a selection was made of the seedling nowreferred to as ‘Bentley’ in September 2004, by the inventor in aresearch nursery in Wonga Park, Australia.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘BENTLEY’ was first performedthe Spring of 2005, by vegetative cuttings at a research nursery inWonga Park, Australia. Multiple generations have since been produced andhave shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘BENTLEY’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BENTLEY’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BENTLEY’ as a new and distinct Lavandulacultivar:

-   -   1. Red-Purple terminal bracts.    -   2. Large terminal bracts    -   3. Bushy, compact plant habit.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BENTLEY’ are similar to plants of theparent, Lavandula stoechas ‘Kew Red’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘BENTLEY’ havesignificantly longer sterile terminal bracts, more sterile terminalbracts and an overall wider inflorescence than the seed parent.Additionally, plants of ‘Bentley’ are slightly larger than ‘Kew Red’ andhave more branches, producing a denser plant.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘BENTLEY’ are similar to plants of theparent, Lavandula stoechas Pukehou' in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘BENTLEY’ havedifferent colored sterile terminal bracts. Additionally, plants of‘BENTLEY’ are slightly larger than ‘Pukehou’ and have many morebranches, producing a denser plant.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘BENTLEY’ can be compared to the commercial variety Lavandula stoechas‘Sugarberry Ruffles’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,243. The two varieties aresimilar in many horticultural characteristics, however, plants of‘BENTLEY’ differ in producing sterile terminal bracts of a lighter colorand wider inflorescence. Additionally, plants of ‘BENTLEY’ are denser,with more branches and have longer peduncles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘BENTLEY’ grown outdoors in Victoria, Canada, in a 20cm container. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 35 weeksfrom a rooted cutting. The photograph was taken using conventionaltechniques and although colors may appear different from actual colorsdue to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventionalphotographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘BENTLEY’ plants grown outdoors in a hobbyistgarden in Victoria, Canada. The growing temperature ranged from 10° C.to 30° C. daytime and 7° to 20° C. at night. No growth regulators orother chemical treatments were used. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Lavandula stoechas ‘BENTLEY’

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 14 to 21 days at approximately 20-24°    C.-   Root description: Fibrous-   Propagation method: Vegetative cuttings

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 35 weeks from a rooted cutting-   Growth habit: Bushy, compact.-   Pot size of plant described: 20 cm-   Height: Average: 50 cm.-   Plant spread: Average: 60 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate-   Main stem color: Near RHS Green 138C-   Main stem texture: Pubescent-   Stem length: Approximately 45 cm-   Stem diameter: Approximately 0.8 cm-   Branching characteristics: Very free branching.-   Length of branches: Average 7 cm.-   Quantity of branches per plant: More than 50-   Characteristics of branches:    -   -   Form.—Quadrangular.        -   Diameter.—Average 0.3 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 138C.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong and flexible.        -   Internode length.—Average: 0.7 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Average length.—Approximately 2.7 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Linear.        -   Apex.—Murcronate.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth.        -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near R.H.S. Green 136D.            Young foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138C. Mature            foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 138C. Mature foliage            under side: Near RHS Green 138C.        -   Venation.—Type: Reticulate. Venation color upper side: Near            RHS Green 136D. Venation color under side: Near RHS Green            136D.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period: Naturally blooming profusely mid Spring through    mid-Summer. Moderate reblooming in the Fall.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Form.—Small single flower in verticillasters arranged in            spikes. 9 to 11 rows of flowers. Flowers have small bracts,            and large showy terminal bracts. Approximately 150            inflorescences per plant.        -   Individual flowers.—Singly occurring, 30 to 50 flowers and            buds per inflorescence. Florets: Corolla tube is 2-lipped.            Size individual flowers: Length: Approximately 0.5 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Inflorescence size, excluding terminal bracts.—Length:            Approximately 4.9 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 cm.        -   Corolla.—Color: Immature both surfaces: Near RHS Red-Purple            72A. Mature both surfaces: Near RHS Red-Purple 72B. Fading            both surfaces: Near RHS Red-Purple 74D. Lip/Lobe            Description: Shape: Obovate. Length: approximately 0.4 cm.            Width: approximately 0.3 cm. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.            Texture, both surfaces: Glabrous, papery.        -   Spike description.—Length: Approximately 4.9 cm. Width:            Approximately 2.0 cm. Color: Near Red-Purple 72A.        -   Flower bud description.—Shape: Cylindric. Length:            approximately 0.3 cm. Width: approximately 0.1 cm. Color:            Near Greyed-Purple N187D.-   Terminal bracts:    -   -   Quantity.—4 to 6.        -   Length.—Approximately 3.9 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 2.1 cm.        -   Aspect.—Undulating.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Texture, both surfaces.—Glabrous, papery.        -   Duration on plant.—Approximately 6 weeks, with good color.            Persistent.        -   Color.—Upper side of immature bract: Near RHS Red-Purple            74C. Under side of immature bract: Near RHS Red-Purple 74C.            Upper side of mature bract: Near RHS Red-Purple 74C. Under            side of mature bract: Near RHS Red-Purple 74C. Bract color            fading to: Near RHS Red-Purple 74D.-   Small bracts:    -   -   Quantity.—Typically 2.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.0 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Apex.—Shallow bi-lobe.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Aspect.—Undulating.        -   Duration on plant.—Approximately 6 weeks. Persistent. Color:            Upper side of immature bract: Near RHS Red-Purple 72C,            center stripe near Red-Purple 71A. Under side of immature            bract: Near RHS Red-Purple 72C, center stripe near            Red-Purple 71A. Upper side of mature bract: Near RHS            Red-Purple 72C. Under side of mature bract: Near RHS            Red-Purple 72C. Bract color fading to: Near RHS Red-Purple            73C.-   Fragrance: Strong Lavender scent.-   Flowers: Self-cleaning.-   Calyx:    -   -   Sepal description.—Shape: Fused into tube. Quantity: 5.            Length: approximately 0.2 cm. Width: approximately 0.2 cm.            Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, both surfaces:            Pubescent, velvety.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Peduncle length.—Average range approximately 7 to 9 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 138C.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Androecium:    -   -   Stamens.—4.        -   Anther shape.—Linear.        -   Anther length.—Approximately 0.05 cm.        -   Anther color.—Near RHS Yellow 7A.        -   Pollen quantity.—Minimal.        -   Pollen quantity.—Near RHS Yellow 4A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    pathogens and pests common to Lavandula have been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures    between 10 to 40° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lavandula plant named ‘BENTLEY’ asherein illustrated and described.